Justice emphasizes the breach of trust and national pride linked to the historic photograph.
Churchill Heist: Man Sentenced for Stealing Iconic Photograph
Churchill Heist: Man Sentenced for Stealing Iconic Photograph
Canadian man receives two-year prison sentence for stealing a famous portrait of Winston Churchill.
A Canadian man has been sentenced to nearly two years behind bars for thieving a renowned photograph of Sir Winston Churchill, famously known as "The Roaring Lion." Jeffrey Wood, who entered a guilty plea, admitted to stealing the original print from Ottawa’s Château Laurier hotel in late December 2021 through early January 2022, in addition to committing forgery.
The image, captured by acclaimed photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, portrays a serious-looking Churchill shortly after a significant address to the Canadian Parliament and is widely recognized, even appearing on the UK £5 note. Ottawa police managed to track down the stolen photograph last year in Genoa, Italy, where it was in the possession of an unsuspecting private buyer.
The theft went unnoticed until August 2022, when a hotel staff member discovered that the original artwork had been swapped out for a counterfeit version. Reports in Canadian media indicated that Wood claimed he had stolen the photo to secure financial assistance for his brother, who was struggling with mental health issues.
During the sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the cultural importance of the photo, describing the incident as a breach of trust within Canadian society that allows such properties to be appreciated by the public. He stated, "It is a point of national pride that a portrait taken by a Canadian photographer would have achieved such fame."
In response to the sentence, Geneviève Dumas, general manager of the Château Laurier hotel, expressed satisfaction that Canadian history was acknowledged through the legal proceedings. Wood received a sentence of "two years less a day," which ensures he will serve time in a provincial facility rather than a federal one. His attorney characterized the sentence as "unnecessarily harsh" for a first-time offender.
The image, captured by acclaimed photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, portrays a serious-looking Churchill shortly after a significant address to the Canadian Parliament and is widely recognized, even appearing on the UK £5 note. Ottawa police managed to track down the stolen photograph last year in Genoa, Italy, where it was in the possession of an unsuspecting private buyer.
The theft went unnoticed until August 2022, when a hotel staff member discovered that the original artwork had been swapped out for a counterfeit version. Reports in Canadian media indicated that Wood claimed he had stolen the photo to secure financial assistance for his brother, who was struggling with mental health issues.
During the sentencing, Justice Robert Wadden emphasized the cultural importance of the photo, describing the incident as a breach of trust within Canadian society that allows such properties to be appreciated by the public. He stated, "It is a point of national pride that a portrait taken by a Canadian photographer would have achieved such fame."
In response to the sentence, Geneviève Dumas, general manager of the Château Laurier hotel, expressed satisfaction that Canadian history was acknowledged through the legal proceedings. Wood received a sentence of "two years less a day," which ensures he will serve time in a provincial facility rather than a federal one. His attorney characterized the sentence as "unnecessarily harsh" for a first-time offender.
